Risë Vanfleet - The Human Half of Dog Training: Collaborating with Clients to Get Results

The Human Half of Dog Training
Collaborating with Clients to Get Results
Ris VanFleet

Dogwise Publishing
A Division of Direct Book Service, Inc.
403 South Mission Street, Wenatchee, Washington 98801
1-509-663-9115, 1-800-776-2665
www.dogwisepublishing.com / info@dogwisepublishing.com

2013 Ris VanFleet
Cover illustration: Stuart Adelman
Graphic Design: Lindsay Peternell

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, digital or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.

Limits of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty:
The author and publisher shall not be liable in the event of incidental or consequential damages in connection with, or arising out of, the furnishing, performance, or use of the instructions and suggestions contained in this book.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
VanFleet, Ris, 1953-

The human half of dog training : collaborating with clients to get results / by Rise VanFleet.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-61781-103-6

1. Dog ownersPsychology. 2. DogsTrainingPsychological aspects.. 3. Dog trainers.Professional relationships. I. Title.

SF422.86.V36 2012

636.70835dc23

2012031303

ISBN: 978-1-61781-103-6

Printed in the U.S.A.

More praise for The Human Half of Dog Training

The Human Half of Dog Training is a godsend to teachers everywhere! Finally, the missing link between trainer and client is here! Ris has a wonderful knack for explaining the subtle issues we all encounter in a non-judgmental, insightful and caring manner. A must have for all trainers libraries!

Pamela Dennison, Author of five books and four DVDs, including The Complete Idiots Guide to Positive Dog Training and Training the Whistle Recall

All trainers can benefit from Dr. Van Fleets approach to The Human Half of Dog Training developing a knack for empathic listening, setting limits on class disruptive clients, avoiding those pitfalls of noncompliance and unrealistic expectations. Ris Van Fleet sparkles with her inclusive writing style and extensive background in family counseling. If we canine professionals can agree that training is a lot like landing an airplane whereby the end result depends on the approach, we can thank Ris for further illuminating that runway! Maggie Blutreich, CPDT-KA

A must read for all canine professionals. Ris VanFleet has created a seminal masterpiece that details how to approach the many variables of the often forgotten human component in animal behavior consulting.

Michael Shikashio, CDBC

As veterinarians, we study for many years to learn how to best care for pets, forgetting at times that every beloved pet comes with a human client. This book is exactly what every veterinarian and veterinary hospital employee needs to help communicate more effectively with the people who care enough to trust us with their pets. The Human Half of Dog Training is filled with case examples and situations that are recognizable to our profession. Ris Van Fleet offers recommendations for creating the best plan and achieving the greatest treatment results through better communication, empathy, and understanding. As a veterinarian with a special interest in behavior cases, this book will be a valuable addition to my professional library. Dr. Lynn R. Honeckman , Veterinary Behavior Solutions, American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, Pet Professional Guild

Dog trainers and behavior consultants need a number of core skills to be successful as professionalsthey must be good dog trainers, business people, and yes, human trainers! Ris VanFleets new book is the best book on the human component of the training team since Terry Ryans Coaching People to Train Their Dogs, and is chock-full of practical tips for dealing with client challenges using techniques based in sound behavioral science that many dog trainers will already be familiar with.

Casey Lomonaco, KPA CTP, owner Rewarding Behaviors Dog Training, Board of Trustees, Association of Pet Dog Trainers Bravo! This book should be required reading for every professional dog trainer. These skills for working with clients are every bit as important to doing our jobs well as the skills we have with dogs, and nowhere have I seen them so effectively laid out. This is a game-changing book and will no doubt increase the efficacy of any trainer who reads and takes it to heart.

Veronica Boutelle , author How to Run a Dog Business and Minding Your Dog Bussiness , owner dog TEC

For all the dogs who need their
people to understand them.

And for my Alaskan cousin, Laura
Lindemuth, one of the worlds
great lovers of dogs.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I deeply appreciate the many wonderful people who helped in the development of this book. I have been influenced by those who taught, supported, nurtured, and encouraged me throughout my career, in both human psychology and canine behavior.

Many of the skills and concepts in this book reflect the work of Dr. Bernard Guerney and Dr. Louise Guerney, co-founders of the Relationship Enhancement approach to family enrichment and therapy. Their pioneering work in relationship psychology integrated thinking from different schools of psychology into a comprehensive and practical way of working with people. The Guerneys have always demonstrated the humility, respect, empathy, thoughtfulness, creativity, intelligence, and humor that informs their work. I was fortunate to study with both of them years ago and am honored to count them as my friends. What I learned from them has worked beautifully as Ive taught clinicians, parents, and more recently, dog owners and trainers new ideas and approaches that could strengthen their relationships with clients, family members, and their companion animals. And I am glad to share many of these practical tools in this book.

I have greatly appreciated the many canine professionals from whom Ive learned during conferences, workshops, through countless books and DVDs, and during online discussions. I have grown from their knowledge, openness, and willingness to help me on my fascinating journey into dogdom. I am also grateful to the families and the people involved in dog rescue who entrusted me with their dogs and provided feedback that improved my skills and stimulated ideas. Those collaborations taught me much, and those experiences are represented in the pages of this book as well. The same is true of the mental health practitioners and dog trainers in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and beyond who have joined me in the development of Animal Assisted Play Therapy, and who have enthusiastically tried new things and offered input within the best collegial relationships I could ever imagine. Of particular note in this is Tracie Faa-Thompson, play therapist, social worker, amazing horsewoman, lover of Salukis, and dear friend from Scotland, whose ideas have intermingled with my own in a dynamic and fun collaboration.

Previous drafts of this book were reviewed by Carol Byrnes, Leslie McGavin Clifton, Tracie Faa-Thompson, Lynn Honeckman, Cheyenne Pease-Carter, and Michael Shikashio. They took this task seriously and offered many excellent ideas that improved the book substantially. I shall always be most grateful to each of them.